CHICAGO (AP) – A chain of drugstore-based health clinics owned by Walgreen Co. announced a massive expansion Tuesday that will triple the number of U.S. cities it serves by December.

Take Care Health Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of the drugstore chain, said it plans to open up to 100 more clinics.

The company, acquired by Walgreen in May, has 63 clinics in four cities and is on pace to operate 400 clinics inside Walgreens stores by December 2008.

The industry trade group Convenient Care Association said it expects that 700 of the quick clinics will be operating by December.

The clinics, which generally are staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, offer same-day appointments plus weekend and evening hours for routine ailments such as sore throats and ear infections. Visits are usually less expensive than trips to a doctor’s office.

Take Care said it expects to open clinics in Cincinnati; Cleveland; Houston; Las Vegas; Miami; Nashville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla.; Tampa, Fla.; and Tucson, Ariz. The company already operates clinics in Chicago; Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee; and St. Louis.

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